Most Likely Places for Pedestrian Accidents
According to the CDC, approximately 8,000 pedestrians died on American roads in crashes involving a vehicle in 2021 alone. This means that approximately one pedestrian dies in the United States of America every 66 minutes. Pedestrian accidents can happen in several areas and for various reasons. In a previous related post, we discussed three high-risk pedestrian areas and scenarios. These areas and scenarios are school zones, parking lots, and night-time. In this article, we discuss four more high-risk pedestrian areas.
4 Most Likely Places for Pedestrian Accidents
Accidents involving pedestrians can happen anywhere. However, pedestrian accidents are more common in certain places than in others. Below are some of the most likely places for pedestrian accidents;
- Highways
Most people assume that most pedestrian accidents happen at intersections. However, research shows that most pedestrian accidents happen away from intersections. Quite a number of pedestrian accidents happen on highways where vehicles move at high speeds. It is more dangerous for a person to walk on a highway where vehicles are traveling at high speeds than to cross an intersection. In fact, research suggests that intersections are among the safest points to cross a road. That said, pedestrian accidents can and do occur at intersections since pedestrians must cross paths with motorists at intersections.
- Urban Areas
Pedestrian accidents are quite common in cities and densely populated areas. This is because such places see a lot of pedestrian activity. It is especially common for pedestrian accidents to happen in areas where people cross the streets in the absence of a crosswalk.
- Poorly Lit Areas
A pedestrian walking in a poorly lit area is at an increased risk of being involved in an accident than one walking in a well-lit area. Pedestrians should stick to walking in well-lit areas and avoid dark, and poorly-lit areas. For example, as a pedestrian, you should avoid taking shortcuts through side streets and dark alleys if possible.
- Bus Stops
Pedestrian accidents are also quite common at bus stops. Pedestrian accidents are common at bus stops because of the mix of pedestrians and vehicles.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents can happen for several reasons. For example, poor signage and malfunctioning signals can cause pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians can also be distracted and step into traffic. However, most pedestrian accidents occur because of driver negligence. The following are some of the most common driving behaviors that cause pedestrian accidents;
- Impaired driving
- Drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Failure to use turn signals
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield
Pedestrian Accident Victims Have Legal Rights
When a pedestrian is involved in an accident because of the negligence of another driver, they may be eligible to recover financial compensation through a personal injury claim. A pedestrian accident victim may be eligible to economic and noneconomic damages. Depending on the specifics of your case, you may also be eligible to recover punitive damages. According to Florida law, punitive damages are awarded if it can be shown that the defendant was guilty of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
Legal Help Is Available
In the event of a pedestrian accident, our Orlando personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm are here for you.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Ocala, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Daytona Beach, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Naples, Bradenton, and Melbourne areas.
Source:
cdc.gov/transportationsafety/pedestrian_safety/index.html
